Okfuskee County Sheriff Resigns After Escape
- mike33692
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Okfuskee County sheriff resigns after inmate escape investigation
The Okfuskee County sheriff resignation is drawing attention across Oklahoma after Sheriff Logan Manshack announced he will step down following a major jail security failure tied to an inmate escape last year.
Manshack confirmed Tuesday that his resignation will take effect at noon on May 8.
The move follows months of scrutiny surrounding the December 2025 escape of inmate Joshua Butler, who remained missing for five days before jail staff realized he was gone.
Okfuskee County sheriff resignation follows major jail breach
The Okfuskee County sheriff resignation comes after investigators revealed extensive failures inside the county jail system.
According to officials, Butler escaped after removing a sink from his cell, chiseling through a concrete wall, and crawling through a plumbing chase.
Authorities say he then exited through a back door with a lock that had reportedly frozen open due to an earlier water leak.
Sheriff Manshack stated the lock was obsolete and replacement parts were no longer manufactured.
The incident has also renewed questions about jail oversight standards and maintenance practices inside county detention facilities, areas closely tied to policies established by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
Inmate missing for five days before discovery
The Okfuskee County sheriff resignation also follows criticism over how long the escape went unnoticed.
Officials say Butler escaped on Dec. 20, 2025, but jail staff did not realize he was missing until Dec. 25.
The delay triggered a statewide manhunt that lasted roughly a week.
After being located in Hughes County on Dec. 31, Butler was shot and killed by troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol after reportedly fleeing a traffic stop while armed with a rifle.
Sheriff says resignation necessary
The Okfuskee County sheriff resignation was accompanied by a public statement from Manshack acknowledging responsibility for the failures.
“As sheriff, I have always believed in taking responsibility for my office, and I do so,” Manshack said.
He also described the five-year-old jail as already suffering from deteriorating infrastructure and operational issues.
The resignation is already drawing attention from law enforcement leaders statewide, including members of the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association, as questions continue surrounding staffing, infrastructure, and accountability inside county jails.
Investigations into jail operations continue
The Okfuskee County sheriff resignation does not end ongoing investigations into the jail’s staffing and oversight practices.
Officials say reviews are continuing to determine how the escape occurred and whether additional changes are needed to prevent future security failures.
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